The number of patients suffering from osteochondrosis increases every year, and the disease is irrepressibly young - a couple of decades ago this problem concerned mostly the elderly, but now it often makes itself felt even for those who do not even have 30. And one of its most common forms is osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, which daily has the maximum load that launches degenerativeProcesses in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs.In addition to constant pain that interferes with normal life, osteochondrosis without timely medical care is fraught with serious complications, which means that it is very important to recognize its first signs in time and begin the fight against it.
Where does osteochondrosis come from
The question is far from simple, because there are really many factors capable of provoking this disease.It can be both the physiological characteristics of the body, and an unhealthy lifestyle, diet or even a genetically laid program.In general, among the main reasons for the development of osteochondrosis of the lumbar region, one can distinguish:
- incorrect distribution of load on the spine (incorrect posture, poor -quality mattress or office chair, etc.);
- sedentary lifestyle;
- frequent stresses;
- unhealthy habits;
- a meager diet, leading to a deficiency of the necessary vitamins and trace elements;
- hypothermia;
- pathology of the structure of the musculoskeletal system, for example, curvature of the spine, flat feet, etc.;
- overweight;
- violation of metabolism;
- spine injuries;
- transferred infectious diseases;
- chronic inflammatory processes, primarily associated with joint diseases;
- Genetic predisposition.
The risk group also includes people whose professional activities are associated with significant loads, for example, athletes, and those who have to be in the same pose for a long time: teachers, office workers, drivers, waiters, hairdressers, etc.
In addition, osteochondrosis often becomes the result of other diseases, for example, disorders in the liver or gastrointestinal tract (in approximately 30% of patients), heart, as well as inflammation of the ovaries in women and prostatitis in men.In this case, existing pathologies provoke muscle and vascular cramps, causing oxygen starvation and dystrophic changes.Accordingly, fabrics that form the vertebrae and intervertebral discs, suffering from a lack of nutrition, are gradually destroyed - osteochondrosis of the lumbar region develops.
Symptoms of the disease
On what signs can be recognized in a person osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, and is it realistic to do this until the disease gained momentum?Unfortunately, in the early stages, this ailment in many cases proceeds almost asymptomatic, and a slight discomfort in the back arising from time to time is most often written off to normal fatigue.This is its main danger - while osteochondrosis can still be cope with without consequences, it is difficult to detect, and when the problem becomes obvious, it is much more difficult to slow down pathological processes.
The most important sign of this pathology is a severe lower back pain, often spreading to the whole back, buttocks and legs.In the first stages, it is predominantly aching or pulling, and occurs only after physical exertion or sudden movements.Over time, the periods of relative lull, when the patient does not feel pain and discomfort, become shorter, and gradually unpleasant sensations in the lower back turn into his permanent companions.In addition, there are exacerbations, when the pain becomes intense and sharp, and even the most insignificant load can provoke an attack, up to cough or sneezing.
There are additional signs of lumbar osteochondrosis:
- stiffness of movements;
- decrease in sensitivity and tingling in the legs;
- violation of sweating;
- muscle weakness;
- Dry and peeling of the skin.
In the last stages, patients may have difficulties with the control of urination and defecation due to pinching of the spinal cord, and male patients have erectile dysfunction.
Degree of lumbar osteochondrosis
In total, 4 main stages of the development of the disease are distinguished.For 1, the deformation of the intervertebral discs is weakly expressed - these are small cracks inside the fibrous ring, which cause unpleasant sensations.Osteochondrosis of the 1st degree is characterized by paroxysmal pain, which occurs only with sharp movements and lifting weights.We are talking about lumbago, that is, bastards in the lower back in response to an attempt to change the uncomfortable position of the body.In addition, at 1 stage of the disease, patients often suffer from muscle cramps and swelling.
Lumbar osteochondrosis of the 2nd degree begins with lumbalgia - pain and discomfort increase and appear regularly, and to improve well -being, it is already not enough just to lie down a little and relax.The process of destruction of the fibrous ring continues, and the vertebrae themselves acquire unhealthy mobility - the distance between them decreases, and the nerve endings are pinched.As a result, the patient has intense pains, as well as a alternate sensation of heat and cold, increased sweating and numbness of the skin.
Stage 3 of osteochondrosis is the period of formation of intervertebral hernias.The fibrous ring breaks and the contents of the nucleus, pushing the vessels and nerve roots, falls out.At the same time, the patient is tormented by acute pains that pursue him almost without a break.Periodically, in the affected area, sensitivity decreases or completely disappears, and in other cases, on the contrary, it can increase painfully and accompanied by a sensation of tingling and burning.At this stage of osteochondrosis, even a non -specialist can notice the deformation of the spine - patients develop the curvature of the spinal column according to the type of lordosis, kyphosis or scoliosis.
The 4th degree of the disease is the most severe - the spine is very deformed, patients suffer from constant pain, and any movement for them turns into a real problem.This is due to the almost complete destruction of the intervertebral discs, as a result of which the vertebrae are maximally converged or even in contact with each other.In this case, squeezing the spinal cord may result in paralysis of the lower extremities.If you do not start treatment on time, by going to the 4th stage, osteochondrosis is able to make a person a disabled person for the rest of his life.
Diagnosis of osteochondrosis
With lower back pain, most patients first go for advice to the therapist, who, if there are appropriate symptoms, sends them for further examination to a neurologist.He, in turn, conducts an inspection, collects an anamnesis and prescribes hardware studies to make an accurate diagnosis and determine the degree of neglect of the disease.
During the collection of the anamnesis, the main task of the specialist is to find out the nature of the unpleasant sensations, their localization, intensity and duration, and also understand what frequency the exacerbations of the disease happen, which, as a rule, precedes, and what measures bring relief to the patient.Also, to make a diagnosis, the patient’s lifestyle, his usual diet, the features of professional activity, injuries and existing diseases, including hereditary ones, are important.
The inspection allows you to evaluate the motor capabilities of the patient (posture, gait, volume of movements), the presence of tone and muscle cramps, as well as determine the level of sensitivity in the affected area.
However, you can get a full picture only with the help of hardware research: radiography, CT and MRI.X -ray allows you to see violations of the spine structures, assess the condition of the intervertebral discs and in time to recognize the tendency to reduce the lumen between the vertebrae.Computed tomography in this case is more informative - it makes it possible to literally look inside the spine and study the existing pathologies.And the MRI, in turn, gives exhaustive information about the state of the spinal cord, nerve endings, muscles and blood vessels, which is extremely important not only to make the diagnosis of “lumbar osteochondrosis”, but also to determine the degree of neglect of the disease.
Methods of treatment
In order to successfully cope with lumbar osteochondrosis, patients need complex therapy, necessarily including drug treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures, special gymnastics, massage, as well as the use of traditional medicine recipes that enhance the effect of the use of traditional methods.
The priority task that needs to be solved by starting the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis is the relief of pain syndrome, since during the exacerbation of the disease many therapeutic methods, such as physiotherapy and exercise therapy cannot be used.To this end, patients are prescribed painkillers and injections, as well as non -steroidal anti -inflammatory drugs.It is the latter that are the main component of the drug treatment of osteochondrosis - they cope not only with its symptoms, but also affect the causes that provoke their appearance.In the most difficult cases, glucocorticosteroids are used to combat the inflammatory process, which are most often introduced directly into deep tissues in the damage zone along with novocaine or lidocaine.
In addition, patients with osteochondrosis need preparations for removing muscle spasms - anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants, chondroprotectors that restore damaged cartilaginous tissue, and group B vitamins that strengthen the body's protective functions and reduce inflammation.
After the painting of pain, physiotherapeutic procedures come to the forefront in the treatment of osteochondrosis.We are talking about the use of laser therapy, magnetotherapy, ultrasound, electrophoresis, acupuncture, mud baths, paraffin applications, etc., which effectively cope with discomfort and pain and fix the result obtained from taking medications.
An important place in the fight against osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is diverted with physiotherapy exercises - subject to regular execution, the sets of exercises specially designed for such a case significantly improve the patient's condition, returning him freedom of movement almost in full.And professional massage will help to consolidate successes that perfectly reaches muscle cramps.Non -traditional medicine, which offers osteochondrosis, is playing a non -last role in this matter, not only effective in combating this ailment, but also safer than many synthetic drugs.
Why is lumbar osteochondrosis dangerous?
In addition to intensive pain, who often makes the life of a patient with lumbar osteochondrosis truly unbearable, people with such a diagnosis are limited by motor capabilities, and at the last stages of the disease, some of them can be lost completely.We are talking about paralysis of the lower extremities, which can develop as a result of compression of the spinal cord.In the most extreme case, osteochondrosis is able to lead even to death if there are significant damage to the shell of the spinal cord.
But without even reaching 4 stages, lumbar osteochondrosis seriously undermines human health.Often it ends with the formation of intervertebral hernias, requiring prolonged and complex treatment, and in some cases, and surgical intervention.In addition, squeezing blood vessels, which is characteristic of osteochondrosis, can lead to the formation of dangerous stagnation and violate the work of other internal organs.In patients with such a diagnosis, the genitourinary system often suffers - lumbar osteochondrosis is able to provoke problems with ovaries, uterus and appendages in women and erectile dysfunction in men.
It is obvious that in time to recognize the symptoms of osteochondrosis, seek help and start its complex treatment - the task is extremely important.But the role of prevention is no less important in this matter - it is with its help that you can reduce the risk of developing the disease and maintain good health.We are talking about regular, but moderate physical exertion, a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, compliance with the drinking regime and examinations of specialists who can identify possible problems in the earliest stages.
It should be remembered that osteochondrosis of the lumbar region is a serious disease, which is extremely dangerous for health to ignore the symptoms of which.Only by recognizing the disease in time and starting treatment, you can slow down pathological processes and return the patient to lead the opportunity to lead the usual lifestyle.Otherwise, the consequences may be the most deplorable, up to disability, which the patient will no longer be able to get rid of.